Japanese haskap plant named ‘Taka’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Japanese haskap plant, ‘Taka’, that is characterized by its upright and spreading plant habit, its moderately vigorous growth habit, its high fruit yields, its frost tolerant flowers, its fruits that are produced in mid June and medium large in size, cylindrical in shape, medium in firmness, produce little juice, good sweet tasting, and maintain their appearance, firmness and taste for 3 to 4 weeks in cold storage at 33° F. to 35° F., and its little or no disease or pest problems requiring no chemicals for desirable fruit production.

Botanical classification: Lonicera caerulea ssp. emphyllocalyx.

Variety denomination: ‘Taka’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filedfor 3 plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitledJapanese haskap Plant Named ‘Keiko’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser.No. 14/121,242), Japanese haskap Plant Named ‘Tana’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 14/121,254), and Japanese haskap Plant Named ‘Kapu’(U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/121,252).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Loniceracaerulea ssp. emphyllocalyx and will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘Taka’. ‘Taka’ is a new cultivar of Japanese bluehoneysuckle berry, also known as Japanese haskap, a plant grown for itsfruit that is marketed as fresh and frozen fruit and processed foodproducts.

The new Invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program thatinitiated in 2001 in Corvallis, Oreg. with the planting of seedscollected in 2000 from several berry farms in Hokkaido, Japan. Theobjectives of the breeding program are to develop superior cultivars ofthis early ripening berry plant that could be grown in moderate tocolder climates combined with an upright spreading plant habit and fruitthat were large in size, firm, easy to pick, and good tasting with ahigh yield rate.

The cultivar, ‘Taka’, arose from a cross-made in 2004 between thecultivar ‘Keiko’ as the female parent and an unnamed proprietaryseedling from the Inventor's breeding program, No. 20-04, as the maleparent. In June 2007, the Inventor selected ‘Taka’ as a single uniqueplant, seedling selection No. 91-95, from amongst the seedlings thatresulted from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by hardwood stem cuttings in 2008 in Corvallis, Oreg. Asexualpropagation by hardwood and softwood cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a trial plotfor six years in Corvallis, Oreg. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Taka’ as a unique cultivar of haskap.

-   -   1. ‘Taka’ exhibits an upright and spreading plant habit.    -   2. ‘Taka’ exhibits a moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. ‘Taka’ exhibits high fruit yields.    -   4. ‘Taka’ exhibits frost tolerant flowers and can be grown in        regions prone to spring frosts.    -   5. ‘Taka’ exhibits fruits that are medium large in size,        cylindrical in shape, medium firmness, good sweet tasting, and        with little juice produced.    -   6. ‘Taka’ exhibits fruit that maintain their appearance,        firmness and taste for 3 to 4 weeks in cold storage at 33° F. to        35° F.    -   7. ‘Taka’ produces fruit in mid June in Oregon.    -   8. ‘Taka’ has shown little or no disease or pest problems and        requires no chemicals for desirable fruit production.

The female parent of ‘Taka’, ‘Keiko’ differs from ‘Taka’ in having amore vigorous growth habit and fruit that is oval in shape, less sweet,and less firm. The male parent of ‘Taka’, selection No. 20-04, differsfrom ‘Taka’ in having a more vigorous growth habit and fruit thatmatures a week earlier, is less sweet, less firm, less elongated inshape, and has weaker fruit attachment. ‘Taka’ can be most closelycompared to the cultivar ‘Yufutsu’ (not patented) and to cultivars fromthe same breeding program; ‘Kapu’ and ‘Tana’. ‘Yufutsu’ differs from‘Taka’ in having a denser and low spreading plant habit (wider thantall) and in having berries that are smaller, less firm, juicier, andwith a lower BRIX. ‘Kapu’ differs from ‘Taka’ in having a more uprightplant habit and fruit that is oval-ovate in shape, and slightly lessjuicy and firmer. ‘Tana’ differs from ‘Taka’ in having fruit that isoval in shape with a lower BRIX level. ‘Taka’ can also be compared totypical plants of related Russian honeyberries; Lonicera caerulea ssp.edulis and Lonicera caerulea ssp. kamtchatica. One of the maindifferences is that these species are adapted only to regions with verycold winters, whereas Japanese haskap thrives in milder climates as wellas in cold climates. In Oregon, Russian honeyberries bloom about onemonth before Japanese haskap, before there are bees out for pollinationand consequently have low or no fruit yields.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs were taken in mid summer andillustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of 6year-old plants of the new Japanese haskap as grown in a trial garden inCorvallis, Oreg.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit of ‘Taka’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of‘Taka’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the leaves of‘Taka’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a view of the berries of ‘Taka’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new haskap.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 6 year-old plants of the newJapanese haskap as grown on a farm in Corvallis, Oreg. The phenotype ofthe new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 1995 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, fruit bearing.        -   Plant habit.—Upright spreading.        -   Plant size.—Average of 1.3 m in height and 1.2 m in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least hardy to USDA Zone 7b, has not been            tested in colder zones, other plants of the species have            been observed to be hardy in U.S.D.A. Zone 2.        -   Diseases and pests.—In some years, minor damage from            Botrytis sp. has been observed, no significant pests            problems have been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Softwood and hardwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.-   Dormant shoots:    -   -   Density.—Medium.        -   New growth.—144B in color, and glabrous surface.        -   One year-old shoots.—Average of 38 cm in length and 3.3 mm            in diameter, surface is smooth and glabrous, 176B in color.        -   Three year-old shoots.—Average of 89 cm in length and 1.15            cm in diameter (at mid-shoot), surface exfoliating, inner            bark 177C, outer bark 199A in color.        -   Suckering.—Moderate.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Slightly cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface 137C in color, lower            surface 138B in color.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Young mature leaf upper surface; glabrous,            young lower surface; slight amount of pubescence, especially            along midrib and lateral veins, mature lower surface; slight            amount of pubescence along veins.        -   Leaf internode length.—Average of 4.5 cm.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 7.6 cm in length and 3.8 cm in width.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaves upper and lower surface; 144B,            mature leaves upper surface; 137C, mature leaves lower            surface; 138B.        -   Petioles.—1 to 3 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, 145A in            color, glabrous surface.        -   Stipules.—Minute or lacking.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Blooming period.—50% anthesis is on average April 12^(th) in            Corvallis, Oreg., blooms approximately 23 days.        -   Inflorescence type.—Small 2-flowered cymule born in leaf            axils of lowest 1 to 3 nodes on current years shoot.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 2.2 cm cm in length and            1.3 cm diameter.        -   Flower number.—Average of 3.2 per current year shoot.        -   Flower buds.—Mixed buds; flower buds are not visible as they            are enclosed within the leaves of the bud.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—7 days.        -   Flower type.—Epigynous.        -   Corolla form.—Funnel-form, narrow at base, widening towards            the apex, 5-lobed.        -   Flower size.—Length of flower from base of ovary to stigma            is 2.2 cm, width of corolla 2.5 mm at the base and 6.5 mm at            apex.        -   Peduncles.—2 to 5 mm in length, 1.5 mm in diameter, 138B in            color, glabrous surface.        -   Pedicels.—Inconspicuous.        -   Bracts.—2, present at base of ovaries, linear to broadly            lanceolate in shape, color 137C on upper surface and 138B on            lower surface, glabrous on upper surface, pubescence on            lower surface, acute apex, cuneate base, 2 to 6 mm in width            and 1 to 2 cm in length.        -   Sepals.—Absent.        -   Petals.—5, fused into tube with apex of each free, average            of 2.5 mm in diameter at the base, 6.5 mm in diameter near            apex and 1.5 cm in length, tube portion is an average of 1.2            cm in length and 4.5 mm in width, free portion is an average            of 3 mm in length and 3 mm in width, free petals portions            have a rounded apex and entire margins, outer and inner            surface of tube and free portions are 1C in color and have a            pilose surface.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, an average of 2.2 cm in length; style            is about 1.8 cm in length with 3 to 4 mm of style extending            beyond corolla, and 3D in color, stigma is about 1.5 mm in            diameter and 3D in color, ovary is inferior, oval in shape,            3 to 5 mm in length, 2 mm in diameter and 138B in color.        -   Androecium.—5 stamens, adnate to inner surface of corolla            tube, filaments are 1C in color and about 7 mm in length,            anthers are 4B in color, pollen is very abundant in quantity            and 4A in color with 100% acetocarmine stain.        -   Compatibility.—Self-incompatible.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Fruit development.—65 days from mid-bloom to harvest.        -   Harvest date.—Average of June 16^(th) in Corvallis, Oreg.        -   Fruit type.—True berry, consists of 2 ovaries enclosed in            fleshy bracts.        -   Fruit shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Fruit size.—(Medium-large), an average of 2.1 cm in length            and 1.3 cm in width.        -   Fruit surface.—Smooth with heavy bloom.        -   Fruit apex.—Sub-acute.        -   Fruit skin color.—103B with bloom removed, 106D with bloom.        -   Fruit flesh color.—147D.        -   Fruit firmness.—Medium firm.        -   Fruit brix.—14.3°.        -   Fruit juiciness.—Small amount.        -   Fruit taste.—Sweet.        -   Fruit weight.—An average of 1.6 g (average of 25 berries).        -   Peduncle.—8 to 10 mm in length.        -   Pedicel-berry scar.—Very small, dry.        -   Fruit attachment strength.—Medium; strong enough to avoid            pre-harvest drop and loose enough to pick without tearing            fruit.        -   Pre-harvest drop.—Small amount.        -   Post-harvest.—Berries maintain their appearance, firmness            and taste for 3 to 4 weeks in cold storage at 33° F. to 35°            F.        -   Fruit yield.—High.        -   Market uses.—Fresh and frozen fruit and processed products.        -   Seed.—Average of 18 seeds per fruit (average of 25 fruits)            with a potential of 22, dried seeds; lenticular in shape,            dry weight size is 130 mg/100 seeds, 177D in color.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Japanese haskap plantnamed ‘Taka’ as herein illustrated and described.